Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The South
Of the five million tourists who visit Phuket annually,
the
majority flock to Patong, Karon, and Kata on the island's southwest
coast. Here, they find an array of world-class restaurants, activities,
and hotels, all set amid the tropical backdrop of rolling green hills
and crystal-blue waters. But most of southern Phuket doesn't pretend
to be an escape. Rather, it represents total engagement with its busy
beaches, seaside restaurants, open-air bazaars, and throbbing
nightclubs. Phuket Town, with its historical architecture, Chinese her-
itage, and southern Thai cuisine, represents a destination almost
wholly distinct from the island's more populated tourist areas.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival
Dating back more than 150 years, the
Phuket Vegetarian Festival
originated in
Kathu after members of a Chinese opera contracted a fatal disease and sought ways
to purify themselves and please the gods. For most visitors, the highlight of this en-
tertaining nine-day event are the bizarre acts of piercing and self-mortification prac-
ticed by participants, who plunge spears through their cheeks, walk across burning-
hot coals, and perform other jaw-dropping displays of self-sacrifice.
